Methods, Systems, and Products for Billing Calls

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for routing a communication. An identifier of an origination point of the communication is received. A destination point associated with a destination of the communication is determined. The origination point and the destination point are analyzed to determine whether the communication may be entirely routed within a local service provider&#39;s geographic area.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/478,982, filed Jun. 30, 2002 (Attorney Docket 99156 CON2),and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. ______, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/669,923, filed Sep. 24, 2003 (AttorneyDocket 99156 CON1), and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,072,454, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/498,684, filedFeb. 7, 2000 (Attorney Docket 99156), and now issued as U.S. Pat. No.6,654,451, with all these applications incorporated herein by thisreference in their entirety.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figurescontain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright ownerhas no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patentdocument or the patent disclosure, but otherwise reserves all copyrightswhatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The exemplary embodiments generally relate to the field ofcommunications, and more specifically, to systems and methods forbilling and routing toll-free communications based on the localgeographies of the originating communications address and of theterminating communications address.

Toll-free calls, also known as Inward Wide Area Telephone Service(INWATS) calls, allow a long distance subscriber to reverse the chargesby permitting originating parties to call the subscriber withoutaccruing long distance charges. In the United States, toll-free serviceis currently available for intrastate and interstate calls. Over thelast twenty years, the volume of toll-free calls has increased to theextent that its traffic has become a substantial percentage of all tollcalls. Toll-free service is especially useful for entities such asreservation call centers, retail call centers, hospitals, emergencyhotlines, professional services, retail dealers, radio/TV promotions,government call centers, and education call centers.

An entity will often have a single advertised toll-free telephone numberthat is applicable to multiple locations and multiple services. Having asingle advertised number helps to eliminate the expenses which wouldotherwise be associated with advertising the different locations andservices with a different phone number for each. Additionally,advertising a single toll-free number can make it easier for a caller toremember the entity's phone number and easier to access multipleservices with one phone call. For example, this is especially true for anationally franchised pizza delivery business having a large number ofbusiness establishments all providing common goods and services. Thisallows a customer to remember one toll-free number that can be calledfrom any location in the United States and routed to a local businessestablishment to order a pizza for local delivery.

In general, toll-free service connects an originating number through aseries of switches connected to a long-distance carrier's communicationnetwork. The network queries a database to validate the toll-free numberand to select a directory number (DN) for the terminating location ofthe toll-free number. The terminating number is then communicated to thelong-distance carrier's switch and the call is routed via direct accessor via local switches serving the terminating number.

There are numerous methods for routing toll-free calls. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,860 of Weber, discloses a routing method to accessone of a number of reservation offices of a national airline using acommon toll-free telephone number. According to Weber, a caller dials atoll-free number which together with the numbering plan area code (NPA,the first three digits of the caller's ten digit number) is used alongwith the toll-free number dialed by the caller to access a database totranslate the toll-free number into a terminating number in the form ofa Plain Old Telephone Services (POTS) number to which the call isrouted. Since the translation compares the caller's NPA and the dialedtoll-free number, callers from different NPAs may be routed to differentreservation offices. Furthermore, the use of the translation permitsout-of-hours traffic to be routed to a different set of reservationoffice than busy hour traffic.

Another routing example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,126 of Velamuri, et al.,which discloses a method and system of routing an originating number toa particular subscriber location within a plurality of subscriberlocations based on the geographic area from which the call originated.The method includes identifying the originating number with a specificlocation identifier indicating the location of the originating number,providing a range table of selected ranges of location identifiers andif the specific location identifier is within one of the selected rangesof the range table, the call is routed to the terminating numbercorresponding to the selected range containing the specific locationidentifier. If the specific location identifier is not located withinone of the selected ranges, the call is routed to the terminating numbercorresponding to the specific location identifier located in anauxiliary database containing subscriber locations.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,267 of Riskin discloses a toll-free telephone systemthat routes an originating call to one of many nearby dealers(terminating numbers) based upon the coordinates of the originatingnumber and upon the coordinates of the central office serving thedealer. A comparison is performed between the originating number andgeographic locations of one to three selected nearby dealers. The systemautomatically dials the terminating number of the closest dealer therebyrouting the originating number. If the terminating number is busy ordoes not answer, the system can attempt to call an alternate nearbydealer if one exists. The system further provides for billing eachnearby dealer based on the number of incoming telephone calls and forreporting to each dealer the details of the incoming calls. This systemcan be uneconomical for local dealers and central offices.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,636 of Wegrzynowicz discloses a method for selectinga local dealer out of a large group of dealers for completion of atoll-free number. The caller is first connected to a toll switchingsystem. That system sends a query to a first database using thetoll-free number and the geographic information of the originatingnumber. The first database responds with a routing number which is usedto route a second query to one of a plurality of second databases. Thesecond query uses the routing number and the geographical information ofthe originating number to access the second database and to obtain theterminating number of a local dealer. The terminating number is returnedto the toll system for completing the call.

While each of these patents disclose methods for routing toll-free callsbased on geographic information of the originating number and of theterminating number, none discloses a method for routing a localtoll-free call via direct access by a local service provider. Today'stoll-free subscribers are billed based on toll tariff rates and avariety of factors, such as, the number of subscriber lines, monthlyhours of usage, time of day, and other factors. However, local toll-freecalls are eligible for billing based on local tariff rates atsubstantially less cost to the subscriber. Despite this eligibility fordiscounted local toll-free billing, current industry practice is to billtoll-free subscribers either a fixed amount or a flat-rate per minutefor each incoming call regardless of whether the toll-free call isconsidered local or toll. In addition, subscribers are not given theflexibility to allocate subscriber locations based on billing discounts.For example, a subscriber cannot assign geographic calling areas to aterminating number based on billing discounts.

Thus, there is a need in the art to provide toll-free methods andsystems to bill and route local toll-free communications via localservice providers. Similarly, there is a need in the art to providesubscribers with the flexibility to route incoming local toll-freecommunications based on discounted local toll-free billing, demographicinformation of originating numbers, call volumes, times of day, andother factors.

SUMMARY

According to exemplary embodiments, the needs described above and otherneeds are met by methods, systems, computer programs, and computerprogram products for routing local toll-free communications via one ormore local service providers. As used herein, the term “local toll-freecommunication” is used as a term of art in to mean a toll-freecommunication wherein the originating communications address (e.g.,telephone number, IP address, etc.) and the terminating, toll-freecommunications address are in the same Local Calling Area (LCA), are inthe same Local Access and Transport Area (LATA), or otherwise in a localcommunications service area. The methods and systems allow local serviceproviders to market new services to their customers. The methods andsystems may be particularly advantageous to toll-free subscribers whoare in large metropolitan areas or who desire to provide only a singletoll-free communications address to their callers and receive a largenumber of communications from within their own LCA and intraLATA.

Current toll-free systems involve routing an originating communicationthrough the local switches and Service Control Point (SCP) of a LocalService Provider (LSP) to a subscriber's interexchange carrier (IXC) whoprovides long distance transmission of the communication. A LSP is aprovider of local access functionality to an originating party (i.e.,the party placing the toll-free communication). The IXC pays the LSP forservicing the communication, in the form of an “originating accesscharge.” Thereafter, the IXC can route the toll-free communication viatheir own dedicated access to the subscriber's terminating number or viaan LSP switch that services the geographical area of the terminatingnumber. If the IXC uses the LSP to route the originating communicationto the terminating number, then the IXC pays the LSP a “terminatingaccess charge.”

The system routes the originating communication through the localswitches to a regional SCP associated with a LSP. The SCP receives thedialed toll-free number and queries the 800 Service Management System(SMS) database to translate the dialed toll-free number to theterminating number. The SCP then examines the originating number and theterminating number to determine if the toll-free communication is withinthe same LATA or if the toll-free communication is outside of the LATA.If the toll-free communication is within the same LATA, the originatingcommunication is routed via participating local switches to theterminating number. If the toll-free communication is outside of theLATA, the communication is routed to the IXC for further processing androuting.

When an originating party communications the subscriber paying for thetoll-free service, the originating party dials the digits “800”, “888”,“877”, “866”, “855,” or another toll-free three (3) digit prefix, inplace of an Numbering Plan Area (NPA) code that is used with the DN. AnNPA code is the initial group of three (3) digits of a North AmericanNumbering Plan (NANP) number that divides the United States intogeographical “area codes.” The format of an NPA number is NXX, where Nis any digit from 2 to 9 and X is any digit from 0 to 9. The format of aDN is NXX-XXXX. Since the three (3) digit toll-free prefix (i.e., 800,888, 877, 866, 855, etc.) does not designate a particular geographicallocation for termination, the prefix represent a “virtual” telephonenumber referred to as a service access code (SAC). Hence, the ten digittoll-free number (e.g., “800-NXX-XXX”) must be translated to theterminating number (e.g., “NPA-NXX-XXXX). Thereafter, the local SCProutes the originating communication based upon the wire center (usingthe NPA-NXX) or to a block group (using the entire NPA-NXX-XXXX) of theoriginating number and based upon the NPA-NXX of the terminating number.Routing may also be distributed among multiple participating LSPs thatservice the terminating communications address.

As mentioned above, a subscriber can chose wire center routing (usingthe NPA-NXX) or granular block group routing (using the entireNPA-NXX-XXXX). Block groups are defined for the entire United States bythe Census Bureau and typically encompass a much smaller geographic areathan a wire center. This gives a subscriber a greater degree offlexibility in defining which geographic areas should be routed to whichsubscriber locations. At the time of the initial subscription, thesubscriber assigns the wire centers or block groups within its servicearea to the subscriber locations to which communications for thesegeographic areas should be routed to determine billing.

The system works in conjunction with a subscriber's existing toll-freeservice provider (IXC). FCC guidelines allow a toll-free subscriber toselect a long distance carrier (IXC) for toll communications and one ormore local carriers (LSPs) for local calls. Thus, a subscriber can havetwo or more different carriers serving its toll-free service.

To develop competitive offers to subscribers, a local communicationsnetwork's SCP first compares the originating number with the terminatingnumber to classify the communication as local or toll for routing andbilling. A communication eligible for local delivery to a participatingLSP may be billed to the subscriber according to local discount ratesset forth in a local toll guide. On the other hand, a communication thatis not eligible for local delivery (i.e., the communication is longdistance or there is no participating local LSP) is routed via currentindustry practice and is generally billed to the subscriber according toits arrangement with the long distance toll-free service provider.

The local toll guide may work in conjunction with a subscriber'sexisting toll-free service provided by another carrier (IXC). Accordingto the local toll guide, the subscriber may be provided two unique localtoll-free rates—one rate for communications within the LATA outside oftheir Local Calling Area (LCA) and another rate for communicationswithin their LCA. There may also be volume and term discounts. Volumemay be determined using the aggregate total of all intraLATA toll-freeminutes of use (MOUs) for all toll-free numbers. Term may be determinedby the number of months (i.e., 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, etc.)committed to the participating LSP.

In some of the exemplary embodiments, the system may allow a subscriberto modify its own database(s) of terminating locations directly. Thedatabase contains information based on originating numbers, dialedtoll-free numbers, locations of terminating numbers, communicationvolumes, time(s) of day, routing features, and other aspects. Inaccordance with prior practice, a subscriber is provided with atoll-free number which is used to access the subscriber's database(s)for modification. After the subscriber dials the database with itstoll-free number, the subscriber is routed to an interface that allowsthe subscriber to log on. The subscriber specifies an NPA code or anNPA-NXX code for which the subscriber wishes to modify the terminatingnumbers in the database. The system queries the INWATS database toidentify the particular database that contains translation informationfor that subscriber and that NPA code(s). The subscriber is then routedto that database and enters changes. After completion of changes for aparticular NPA, the subscriber is returned to the main menu where thesubscriber can enter another NPA or NPA-NXX code. While this feature maybe provided for some subscribers, others may have their databasemodified by the LSP by submitting a work order to begin the process.

Some of the exemplary embodiments further provide a method of billingthat incorporates geographic locations of the originating number and/orterminating number according to Number Portability (NP). That is, anNPA-NXX is considered to be ported when any subscriber previously servedfrom an End Office (EO) associated with the NPA-NXX moves to another LSPand keeps the same 10-digit NPA-NXX-XXXX.

Other exemplary embodiments provide communication routing instructionsbased on different billing categories of geographic locations of theoriginating number and terminating number.

Further exemplary embodiments provide local toll-free billing androuting in conjunction with a toll-free communications address andenhanced features.

Still further exemplary embodiments of this invention minimize thenumber of queries to databases to obtain communication billinginstructions.

Some of the exemplary embodiments minimize the number of queries toobtain communication routing instructions.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponreview of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computerprogram products be included within and protected by this descriptionand be within the scope of the present invention. As is appreciated bythose of ordinary skill in the art, this invention has wide utility in anumber of areas as illustrated by the discussion below. Theseembodiments may be accomplished singularly, or in combination, in one ormore of the implementations of the exemplary embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other embodiments, objects, uses, advantages, and novelfeatures of this invention are more clearly understood by reference tothe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingfigures, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the routing of a toll-freecommunication that has an originating number and a terminating number inthe same LATA;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the steps implemented in an embodiment ofrouting an originating number to the SCP database server according tosome of the exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the steps implemented in an exemplaryembodiment of routing a terminating communications address to aparticipating local switch to complete the local toll-freecommunication; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a local toll-free billing statement with detailedcommunication information and billing rates according to some of theexemplary embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

This invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodimentsare shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosurewill be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of theinvention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, allstatements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well asspecific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural andfunctional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that suchequivalents include both currently known equivalents as well asequivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed thatperform the same function, regardless of structure).

Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill inthe art that the diagrams, flowcharts, illustrations, and the likerepresent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems, methodsand computer program products embodying this invention. The functions ofthe various elements shown in the figures may be provided through theuse of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executingassociated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures areconceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the operationof program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction ofprogram control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particulartechnique being selectable by the entity implementing this invention.Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplaryhardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systemsdescribed herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are notintended to be limited to any particular named manufacturer.

Exemplary embodiments of this invention provide systems, methods, andcomputer program products that operate with different communicationsdevices, different users, and different communications networks to routeand communicate local toll-free communications via one or more localservice providers. As used herein, the term “local toll-freecommunication” is used as a term of art in to mean a toll-freecommunication wherein the originating communications address (e.g.,telephone number, IP address, etc.) and the terminating, toll-freecommunications address are in the same Local Calling Area (LCA), are inthe same Local Access and Transport Area (LATA), or otherwise in a localcommunications service area. As used herein, the term “communicationsdevice” includes wired and wireless communications devices, such as aPOTS phone, a mobile phone, a wireless phone, a WAP phone, a satellitephone, a computer, a modem, a pager, a digital music device, a digitalrecording device, a personal digital assistant, an interactivetelevision, a digital signal processor, and a Global Positioning Systemdevice.

FIG. 1 illustrates exemplary routing and communication of a toll-freetelephone call. FIG. 1 shows an originating party (originating number)101, who lives in Local Access and Transport Area-1 (LATA-1) 114. LATAis a term that refers to the local geographical areas within the UnitedStates wherein participating LSPs provide local transmission servicesvia local switches, such as, Network Access Points (NAPs), ServiceSwitching Points (SSPs) and Signaling Transfer Points (STPs). In a LATAthat comprises a large metropolitan area, there are often numerous LSPproviders.

Long distance transmission of calls is provided by IXCs. Therefore, IXCrefers to the long distance carriers that route calls between the LATAs.Again, there are numerous IXC providers that a subscriber can use fortoll-free services.

The IXCs interface with the LSPs at Points-of-Presence (POPs) within theLATAs. Therefore, a POP is the physical location within the LATA whereinthe IXC provides access to its long distance network. The IXC networkhas an IXC POP 115 in LATA-1 114.

As shown in FIG. 1, the originating party 101 resides in LATA-1 114.Local telephone calls for LATA-1 are handled by LSP-1 113.

LSP-1 113 for LATA-1 114 includes the following as part of itscommunications network: switches SSP 102, STP 104, and SSP 109; SCP 105;and 800 Database (DB) 106.

A Service Management System (SMS) 107 is an Advanced Intelligent Network(AIN) operations system designed to manage software updates, servicedata updates, service subscriber data update, and provide subscriberservice reports. The SMS 107 provides the data necessary to translate a“virtual” toll-free number (e.g., “800-NXX-XXX”) to a terminating number(e.g., “NPA-NXX-XXXX”).

When an originating party 101 places a toll-free call to a subscriber,the call traverses the path shown in FIG. 1. LSP-1 113 for LATA-1 114routes the call to SSP switch 102. Then SSP switch 102 routes the callto the CCS7 Network 110. A query is issued to translate the dialedtoll-free number 103 and is routed to STP switch 104. SCP 105 accessesthe 800 database 106 provided by SMS 107 to translate the toll-freenumber 103 into a terminating number that has the form ofNPA-NXX-XXXX_(t). SCP 105 examines the originating number 101(NPA-NXX-XXXX_(o)) with the terminating number 114 (NPA-NXX-XXXX_(t)) toclassify the call as local or as toll. For example, that examination canbegin with a simple comparison of the NPAs of the originating andterminating numbers. If the SCP determines that the NPAs are the same(e.g., both the originating and terminating number have the same areacode), it may identify the call as a local call. In some areas and withthe increasing spread of mobile phone numbers and Local NumberPortability, however, that comparison alone may not suffice. Thus, theSCP may instead compare the originating and terminating numbers to adatabase that lists all NPA-NXX numbers that comprise particular LATAs.

Thereafter, STP 104 routes 108 the local toll-free call to SSP switch111. SSP switch 111 routes the local toll-free call to the terminatingparty 114 for completion. If the toll-free call is categorized as toll,STP 104 routes 109 calls to IXC POP 115 for transmission to the IXCnetwork for completion.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary routing and communicationof the originating number (NPA-NXX-XXXX_(o)) to the local communicationsnetwork. An originating party dials a toll-free number (e.g.,“800-NXX-XXXX”) 201. Local switches route the originating party to thelocal communications network 202. The local communications networktranslates the toll-free number to a terminating number(NPA-NXX-XXXX_(t)) 203. Next, the local communications network comparesthe origination number (NPA-NXX-XXXX_(o)) to the terminating number(NPA-NXX-XXXX_(t)) 204.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary routing and communicationof the terminating number from the local communications network. Firstthe local network classifies the toll-free call as local or as tollbased on a comparison of the origination number (NPA-NXX-XXXX_(o)) tothe terminating number (NPA-NXX-XXXX_(t)) 301. If the origination number(NPA-NXX-XXXX_(o)) and the terminating number (NPA-NXX-XXXX_(t)) areoutside the same LATA, the call is classified as toll and routed to thesubscriber's IXC network 302. If the origination number(NPA-NXX-XXXX_(o)) and the terminating number (NPA-NXX-XXXX_(t)) arewithin the same LATA, the call is classified as local and routed fromthe local communications network to the participating local switchserving the terminating number 303. Finally, each originating localswitch creates a local toll-free call record 304. The local toll-freecall record contains information for the call, including but not limitedto: geographic locations, minutes of use (MOUs), routing, call featuresand troubleshooting information 305. Multiple toll-free call records arethereafter combined into a billing block.

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a local toll-free billing statementaccording to some of the exemplary embodiments. The statement providesdetailed call information for each originating call includingoriginating number, geographic area, time of day, length of call,terminating number, eligibility for local toll-free discounting, andamount billed for each call.

Further details and exemplary embodiments are illustrated in thefollowing table and examples. Table 1 provides an example of billingrates for this invention so that rating Examples 1, 2, and 3 can beexplained.]

TABLE 1 LOCAL TOLL-FREE RATES Volume Initial Period Initial Period TollRate/ Commitment up to 30 secs Local rate/min up to 30 secs Min VOLUME-00.0345 0.069 0.042 0.084 VOLUME-A 0.0325 0.065 0.0395 0.079 VOLUME-B0.0305 0.061 0.037 0.074 VOLUME-C 0.0285 0.057 0.0345 0.069 VOLUME-D0.0255 0.051 0.032 0.064 VOLUME-E 0.0245 0.049 0.0295 0.059 VOLUME-F0.0235 0.047 0.02825 0.0565

EXAMPLE 1

A local toll-free call appears on the bill for 0.5 minutes. Thesubscriber is a VOLUME-0 subscriber with no commitment. The localtoll-free call would be rated at 0.5×0.06900=0.03450. The call would betruncated to the penny so the call would be rated at 0.03 on the bill.

EXAMPLE 2

An IntraLATA call appears on the bill for a VOLUME-A subscriber that is0.7 minutes. The call would be rated at 0.7×0.079=0.0553. The amountwould be truncated and would rate on the bill at 0.05. Notice the callis not rounded, it is truncated, although rounding can be implemented

By way of further example, term discounts are set at 5% for a 12 monthcommitment, 8% for a 24 month commitment and 11% for a 36 monthcommitment. Discounts associated with the Term plans may be applied on aper minute rate.

EXAMPLE 3

A local toll-free call appears on the bill for 4.8 minutes. Thesubscriber has a VOLUME-F commitment with a 24 month term. This termwould give him an additional 8% discount. The applied rate for thissubscriber would be the local toll-free rate for VOLUME-F times 1-0.08discount. (4.8×(0.0235×1−0.08)). The easiest way to understand this isto determine the discount. 1−0.08 means the subscriber is paying 0.92 or92% of the rate for someone without a discount, or: 0.92×0.0235=0.02162.To determine the charge to bill, multiply 0.02162×4.8=0.103776 or $0.10.

EXAMPLE 4

Using the system, providers of toll-free telecommunications services cansubstantially reduce the charges they bay to telecommunication serviceproviders. By way of example, suppose Delta Airlines purchases an “800”number service from AT&T. Calls to the 800 number are terminated toDelta's Atlanta headquarters. Each time a Delta passenger passingthrough the airport in Atlanta calls Delta's 800 number for flightinformation, etc., Delta pays AT&T for that toll-free call—even thoughthe call is a local one. Using this invention, calls directed to Delta's800 number that are local in nature are, in fact, identified as a localcall and routed via a local service provider that Delta chooses, such asBellSouth. Because the call is properly treated as a local one, thecharge to Delta for the customer to make the 800 call is less than Deltawould normally pay for such an 800 call.

In other embodiments, the system allows the subscriber to modify adatabase of originating numbers, dialed toll-free numbers, locations ofterminating numbers and/or specific terminating number, call volumes,times of day, routing features, and other aspects for the subscriber'stoll-free numbers. For example, the subscriber may logon to aninformation system to access and configure local toll-free billing forone or more of its toll-free numbers. The subscriber may specify an NPAcode or an NPA-NXX code for which the subscriber wishes to modify theterminating numbers in the database. The system queries the INWATSdatabase to identify the particular database that contains translationinformation for that subscriber and that NPA code(s). The subscriber isthen routed to that database and enters changes. After completion ofchanges for a particular NPA, the subscriber is returned to the mainmenu where the subscriber can enter another NPA or NPA-NXX code. Whilethis feature may be provided for some subscribers, others may have theirdatabase modified by the LSP by submitting a work order to begin theprocess.

While several exemplary implementations of some of the embodiments ofthis invention are described herein, various modifications and alternateembodiments will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Forinstance, the hardware described in FIG. 1 and mentioned in theDescription are by way of example only, and this invention may always beenhanced to incorporate the most advanced available technology. By wayof example, the network elements by which this invention may be deployedwithin a telecommunications network that may include an establishednetwork element (such as an SCP, STP, or SSP, an intelligent peripheralor a computer workstation with an appropriate processor, database andnetwork links). As is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art,the local communications network, may also include a distributedcomputing network, such as the Internet (sometimes alternatively knownas the “World Wide Web”), an intranet, a satellite network, a variety oftelecommunications networks (e.g., Public Switched Telephone Network,Mobile Switching Telephone Office, and others), a local-area network(LAN), and/or a wide-area network (WAN). The local communicationsnetwork may include coaxial cables, copper wires, fiber optic lines,and/or hybrid-coaxial lines. The local communications network may eveninclude wireless portions utilizing any portion of the electromagneticspectrum and any signaling standard (such as the I.E.E.E. 802 family ofstandards). The communications address of the originating party may bean electronic data communications address, such as an email address,webpage, and/or an Internet Protocol (IP) associated address, and/or maybe a telecommunications address, such as a telephone number or acommunications address utilizing any frequency in the electromagneticspectrum (e.g., short wave radio receiver). Further, the billingstatement in FIG. 4 is by way of example only and is meant to representonly a portion of a billing statement. Similarly, the rates in Table 1and billing examples in Examples 1, 2, and 3 are illustrative only andthe rates and billing calculations can be varied and changed at anytime. Accordingly, this invention is intended to include othervariations, modifications, and alternate embodiments that adhere to thespirit and scope of this invention.

1. A method of routing a communication, comprising: receiving anidentifier of an origination point of the communication; determining adestination point associated with a destination of the communication;and analyzing the origination point and the destination point todetermine whether the communication may be entirely routed within alocal service provider's geographic area.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising discriminating the communication from othercommunications not originating and terminating within the local serviceprovider's geographic area.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprisingdetermining the communication is toll-free.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising billing an originating number for the communication.5. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for thecommunication at a selected rate.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising billing for the communication at a selected rate derived froma volume of communications routed to the destination point.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising billing for the communication at aselected rate derived from a volume of communications routed from theorigination point.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising billingfor the communication at a selected rate derived from a subscriptionterm associated with communications routed to the destination point. 9.The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for the communicationat a selected rate derived from a subscription term associated withcommunications routed from the origination point.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein receiving the identifier of the origination pointcomprises receiving an originating number associated with thecommunication.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining thedestination point comprises receiving a destination number associatedwith the communication.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprisingdetermining when the originating point and the destination point arewithin a same service area.
 13. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising identifying the communication as a local call.
 14. The methodof claim 1, further comprising identifying the communication as a tollcall.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing thecommunication to the destination point.
 16. The method of claim 1,further comprising creating a record of the communication.
 17. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising creating a billing statement forthe communication.
 18. The method of claim 1, further comprisingreceiving a subscriber's modification of a terminating number.
 19. Asystem for routing a communication, comprising: means for receiving anidentifier of an origination point of the communication; means fordetermining a destination point associated with a destination of thecommunication; and means for analyzing the origination point and thedestination point to determine whether the communication may be entirelyrouted within a local service provider's geographic area.
 20. A computerprogram product storing processor executable instructions for performinga method, the method comprising: receiving an identifier of anorigination point of the communication; determining a destination pointassociated with a destination of the communication; and analyzing theorigination point and the destination point to determine whether thecommunication may be entirely routed within a local service provider'sgeographic area.